Crane Report 2018

A supplement of:

CRANE REPORT PLUS

AV Y LIFT en’S E H E H T F O S R E T SS MAS nto Aert I InSIghtS ceLLence x LIftIng e

WAY LUFFING APLLL ATHInE S the rISe ofethe An nf t e x ower cr t b I j g n LUffI

E S R U O C H G I H

oc MAnItow

ATEs v E l E R E k iN mA TivEs A A i T T o i P N i d G N EA NiN ThE GRov RE wiTh ToP TRAi CRANE CA

Manitowoc Cranes

Setting the global standard for lifting solutions For almost a century, Manitowoc Cranes has been a premier crane manufacturer. We pride ourselves in providing the most complete range of lifting solutions and services to our customers. Manitowoc Cranes offer the most innovative and highest quality products in the market, with the best dealer and service network to support them.

Manitowoc Cranes product lineup & support • Grove all-terrain cranes

• Potain top-slewing cranes

• Grove rough-terrain cranes

• Potain self-erecting cranes

• Manitowoc lattice boom crawler cranes

• Manitowoc Crane Care

Contact us to locate your nearest authorized dealer: Manitowoc Cranes • Dubai P.O. Box 261734, Dubai, AE • Tel +971 4 8862677 email: enquiry.me@manitowoc.com • www.manitowoc.com

01

MANAGING DIRECTOR RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5471 EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

02

VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713 EDITORIAL EDITOR ANIRBAN BAGCHI anirban.bagchi@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5715 Sub EDITOR AELRED DOYLE aelred.doyle@cpitrademedia.com ADVERTISING & MARKETING SALES EXECuTIVE TOM BROMLEY tom.bromley@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5496 MARKETING MANAGER SHEENA SAPSFORD sheena.sapsford@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5498 DESIGN ART DIRECTOR SIMON COBON simon.cobon@cpitrademedia.com DESIGNER PERCIVAL MANALAYSAY percival.manalaysay@cpitrademedia.com CIRCULATION & PRODUCTION PRODuCTION MANAGER VIPIN V. VIJAY vipin.vijay@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713 WEb DEVELOPMENT MOHAMMAD AwAIS SADIQ SIDDIQUI FOUNDER DOMINIC DE SOUSA (1959-2015)

PRINTED by PRINTwELL PRINTING PRESS LLC

PUbLIShED by

HigH Course There is no sight more majestic in the world of construction equipment than a giant crane reaching up to the heavens with its wiry framework, its elegant boom or even its huge flat jib spanning across a job-site - ropes straining to pull up a load so large and heavy, it beggars belief that gravity could be defied this way.

This is a sight that is very common in the Middle East, not only in its urban areas with the sinuous, spindly spires of tower cranes building the region’s beloved high-rises, but also out in the numerous oil fields, refineries and petrochemical complexes, where the giant all-terrain, rough-terrain and crawler cranes are hoisting impossibly large components atop cliff-like plants.

But behind all this, there are the manufacturers, the rental companies and all the other service providers in the sector. In this report, CMME brings you news and views of the crane sector, encompassing some of the heaviest lifting jobs in the region, components and technologies that make the sector run, some of the biggest crane fleet operators in operation, the various types of cranes and the training that make the sector run.

Licensed by TECOM to registered company, CPI Trade Publishing FZ LLC whose registered office is 207 – 209, Building 3, Dubai Studio City, Dubai, UAE. www.cpitrademedia.com © Copyright 2018 CPI. All rights reserved.

A supplement to Construction Machinery Middle East. while the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.

Anirban Bagchi Editor, CMME

08

16

12 18

26

02

COVER STORY CR ANE REP ORT 2018

Charting a high Course One Of the biggest names in the wOrld Of cranes, the manitOwOc grOup is lOOking at a mix Of services, such as training and maintenance, and an innOvative prOduct pOrtfOliO acrOss its several brands tO retain existing custOmers and tO pull Others in tO push its market share higher

W

hile the state of the economy is most certainly having a significant impact on regional sales of cranes available on the market today, the lack of new sales does not mean that what has already been sold will not need to be kept in top lifting order. This of course is keeping the manufacturers and their dealers busy, and Manitowoc is no exception. The global crane giant, owner of such illustrious brands as Grove mobile cranes and Potain tower cranes, apart from its eponymous Manitowoc crawler cranes, is hard at work in the Middle East region to improve its after sales services to its customers through rigorous training on maintenance and technology.

David Semple, Manitowoc’s senior vice president for the Middle East and India, tells CMME that while providing the best service and back-up when benchmarked to industry standards in the Middle East - or any region, for that matter – is non-negotiable at any moment in time, its assumes greater importance when the market has a downturn.

“This is when customers are buying less new equipment and relying on maximum uptime from their existing fleet.

And this is when we really need to support them and show them we are there by their side, so that when the economy improves, and the buying starts again, they are so pleased with us and assured of our support, that we have already made the next sale,” Semple says.

Of course, with Manitowoc and its array of brands and cranes, the ‘next sale’ does keep happening all the time,

03 Manitowoc’s facility in Dubai’s Jebel ALi Freezone is a hub for the Middle East and adjoining rejions as a training, parts and support hub.

“With our training operations in Dubai, customers in the region are assured that their Manitowoc product, say a Grove mobile crane, is in the most capable hands in terms of maintenance and parts, keeping downtime to a minimum”

04

COVER STORY CR ANE REP ORT 2018

despite market conditions. And what contributes to this in the Middle East is the brand’s firm regional footprint, based out of its hub in Dubai’s Jebel Ali free zone. “The amount of investment we have made in the region and the amount of infrastructure you see in our operations here, especially when compared to a lot of other crane manufacturers, shows that we are here for the long run and we are committed to this region,” Semple says.

“We have two big logistics centres, one in Europe and one in the US, that can deliver most parts worldwide in 48 hours. We do expect our dealers to stock a sizeable amount of parts, particularly the high-volume ones.

Also, while we can deliver almost all parts in 48 hours, if the part in question is 1.5t you don’t want to get that on an airplane as that’s going to cost you a fortune. Instead, you want to get it into a container and ship it here, which will take time. So, we obviously need our dealers to have some form of local inventory in order to be prompt in tackling this. That’s the advantage

of having strong dealers, as we see a definite gain in parts availability.”

Manitowoc also has a parts inventory of its own at its JAFZA premises, Semple adds. These are strategic parts, specifically those that dealers are not really expected to hold, as they are very slow-moving ones, but parts that can still be leveraged regionally.

“And our dealers in the region find

Manitowoc’s David Semple (left) and Yannick Richaud are proud of the advanced, global-quality training available at the company’s Dubai facility.

that getting those parts supplied from our Dubai operations is a lot quicker, rather than having them shipped in from Europe or the US. That’s the beauty of our JAFZA facility. It does a bit of everything: servicing our mobile cranes, crawler cranes, tower cranes, stocking parts, as well as serving our training needs.”

Speaking of training brings us to one of the most important focus areas for Manitowoc, and also brings in Yannick Richaud, the company’s Middle East crane care director.

Explaining the entire training process at Manitowoc, especially at the Dubai facility, he says: “We have a curriculum consisting of various courses. We start with two very basic courses called Crane Technology and Crane Systems, and these are designed to get people familiar with all the various parameters, such as whether the load chart is working, what are the different elements that make up the crane, etc.

“Once these two courses are taken, which are common to all product lines, whether it’s a crawler crane, a roughterrain or all-terrain, then depending on the product line, you have several further levels of courses. Finally, we have the highest level, called the Master Technician. For each course there’s an agenda and then at the end you have a test, which you need to pass to go to the next level. Of course, the Masters certification is our highest level.

05 “For our all-terrain line-up, which are more compact machines, the total number of courses are more around nine instead of the six for our rough-terrains. And very often the tests are held together with the simulators. We simulate problems and the trainee has to diagnose those problems and fix them.”

In order to impart this training, Manitowoc’s JAFZA premises is equipped with several advanced simulators, he reveals. And the simulators, which replicate the cockpit and controls of the various crane models, are modular in nature where troubleshooting is concerned.

At the sides of the simulators are spaces to attach electronic modules, each of which can simulate a different scenario to troubleshoot, providing the experience of a reallife job-site.

Explaining further, Richaud adds: “So how we simulate various scenarios is by fixing a new module to the simulator. Or sometimes we might disconnect a sensor and then you will have an error message on the display and then you need to find out what sensor it corresponds to and find out what the problem could be. Our training is mainly about troubleshooting, though we also touch upon operating the crane. But our courses here are mainly designed for maintenance operations.”

The trainees come mainly from the company’s dealers, though there are also Manitowoc staff from various parts of the region,” because we also need to develop our own competencies”, says Semple. “We also have some people from our large customers who own big fleets of our cranes, with their inhouse maintenance teams coming in to receive training.

“For our dealers, part of the agreement when we assign a new dealership is that we have a programme of developing them. They need to have competent technicians that can handle all the maintenance aspects of our cranes and fix all issues. Without these courses they are unable to do so.

GETTinG inTO ThE GROVE

dynamic duO Of rOugh-terrain cranes

The Grove RT550E and

is a difference in mindsets

to place something not too

RT770E rough-terrain cranes

in different territories about

heavy but relatively high; such

(RTC) have been part of the

crane usage. For example,

as in the maintenance of oil

Grove line-up ever since

in the US mindset, generally

& gas facilities like refineries,

Manitowoc introduced

the booms are short for

petrochemical plants, etc.

them to the world at the

maximising lift capacity,

It is also useful in some

equipment industry’s Bauma

versus the EU mindset

urban one-off lifts, where

2013 trade fair in Munich.

which favours high reach

you perhaps need to put a

over a high lift capacity

water tank atop a building.”

For Manitowoc, the two cranes with capacities of

“What we’ve seen in the

The RT550E also features

45t and 65t for the RT550E

Middle East over the years is

Manitowoc’s Crane Control

and RT770E respectively,

that the design philosophy for

System, which includes a

add to the already stellar

RT cranes has shifted more

boom optimisation feature

line-up of Grove RTs.

towards the EU mindset,

to automatically configure

which is incidentally also

boom length for specific loads

offers the highest capacity

the Japanese philosophy.

and radius. It is designed to

and the longest boom in its

If you look at our Japanese

optimise crane operation

class at 39m. At less than

competitors, they have

through a user-friendly

12m long, 2.55m wide and

extremely long booms

interface with no need for

weighing under 29t, the RT

compared to their footprint.

lengthy lift set-up procedures.

550E is a compact crane

The actual load charts are not

that fits well within most

that strong though; Grove’s

can also be fitted with an

national road regulations

load charts are stronger. So

8m fixed ‘swingaway’ boom

for heavy machinery. The

in a way the 550 is an offering

attachment to extend its

RT550E is designed to give

in the market, which can be

reach to 47m. “It has a

maximum capacity in an

benchmarked against some

Tier 3 Cummins engine in

easy-to-use package, as

of our Japanese competitors

keeping with our tradition of

David Semple explains.

and the relatively long

sourcing engines from the

“The 550 is a crane that

39m boom is basically the

best OEMs. We also equip

we design and build in Italy

longest boom you can get

the crane with accessories

in our factory close to Turin.

for a machine of that class.

for the region, like additional

And it’s been designed with

“It finds great usage in

a European mindset. There

jobs where you would need

The 45t capacity RT550E

The five-section boom

oil coolers for the hydraulic system,” Semple says.

06

COVER STORY CR ANE REP ORT 2018

“Also, together with our dealers we chalk out a development plan for their technical people, which includes a certain amount of training and certification. The plan is discussed in detail and then they send their technicians in several waves and batches, because of course you don’t want to disrupt operations for your customers by having all your technicians away for training at once.

“To be an elite Manitowoc dealer, which is the top tier of our dealerships, it is mandatory to have at least one Master Technician for every product line. The final Master certification is done by our factories; here we do all levels all the way up to and before the Masters. For the all-terrain cranes, the Masters certification is done by our factory in Germany, whereas for the rough-terrains it is done in our Cheery Grove, USA factory. Once a technician reaches the Masters level, this level has to be maintained every year, and for this they need to go to the respective factory annually to renew their certifications This is required because the technology is evolving so rapidly every year that if you don’t keep up with the changes you will be outdated very soon. Someone who has not been in a refresher training in the last few years or so can in no way fix one of our new cranes.”

Richaud adds: “Also, there is a structure in place for picking up the required skills. After training is imparted to a technician or engineer here at our facilities, they need to practice those skills in order to be proficient in them and to acquire them properly. So, we recommend training for two or three modules per year for each technician.

More than that does not really help, as the technician will not be able to pick up the knowledge imparted.

“Our training centre here covers an

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Manitowoc makes heavy use of simulators and modules at its regional facility in Dubai to train technicians on real-life job-site troubleshooting.

area of operations that includes all of the Middle East, not just the GCC countries, and extends into Egypt and Turkey. We also cover the former CIS countries from our Dubai office, as well as now India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. We also accommodate people from some other regions that don’t have this kind of facility. This makes our Dubai facility quite an advanced one for Manitowoc.

It is a hub for training and a benchmark in the wider region for training.”

While Manitowoc also has other global training centres - in Singapore, Germany and the US - the level and the courses are the same in each. Not

only is there uniformity in standards, but also if a technician covers a certain level at any of these centres, he can then go on to do the next level at any other centre, Semple explains.

“There is world-wide coordination on the content of our training programmes and on the requirements to graduate levels. It’s not that we are all in little islands doing things our own way; there is complete standardisation of and uniformity in our training process globally. Our global brands are equally sought after in the Middle East. And with our training operations in Dubai, customers in the region are assured that their Manitowoc product, say a Grove mobile crane, is in the most capable hands in terms of maintenance and parts, keeping downtime to a minimum.

People, power and passion to build on

www.aertssen.ae

info.ae@aertssen.be

+971 2 555 4959

+971 2 555 4965

08

INTERVIEW CR ANE REP ORT 2018

Masters of the heavy lift

Tony nuyTs, general manager, aerTssen machinery services lTd – abu dhabi, discusses The mulTinaTional heavy lifT and cranes renTal services provider’s operaTions in The region wiTh CMME and gives insighTs inTo whaT makes iT such a recognised name Please give us an overview of Aertssen as a company, and its operations worldwide and in the Middle East.

Aertssen was founded in the 1950s in a village near Antwerp, Belgium. The story starts when Marcel Aertssen was forced to sell his farm for the expansion of the Antwerp Port. With the money he receives, he bought his first excavator and opened ‘Earthworks Marcel Aertssen’. In the 1980s, Aertssen Transport and Aertssen Cranes were established by Marcel’s sons and the success of Aertssen continued.

In 2005, in its first expansion outside Belgium, Aertssen chose Abu Dhabi to launch a new company: Earthmoving World Wide (EMW). Five years later, Aertssen Machinery Services (AMS) was established to represent Aertssen Cranes in the UAE. Today, eight years later, AMS has proven itself in the GCC to be a major heavy lift and crane rental provider and has established fruitful business relationships with many clients and engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contractors in the

construction, oil & gas and offshore sectors.

With the building of a brand-new premises, over 30,000sqm in size in Abu Dhabi’s ICAD III industrial complex, AMS is now able to showcase the success it has gained over the recent past.

Please describe Aertssen’s crane fleet in terms of numbers of cranes, types, capacities, etc.

As a specialist global name in the heavy lift and crane rental services provider segment, and boasting an enviable track record of lifting operations, Aertssen has an extensive crane fleet that covers every requirement a customer may have with a broad range of cranes in various categories.

Our fleet strength is especially strong when it comes to the mobile and crawler cranes, and we work with the world’s leading crane manufacturers to supply our fleet. In the mobile crane segment our rough terrain cranes (RTC) are from Tadano. We have Tadano RTCs from the 30t to 145t capacity classes. In fact, AMS is

09 Established in Belgium in the 1950s, Aertssen has a large and enviable fleet of some of the biggest and heaviest cranes both globally and in the GCC.

“One important ways we manage to offer a very high level of service and performance is by ensuring that we have a very young fleet. At Aertssen we do not keep our cranes for more than 10 years and 85% of our crane fleet is younger than five years of age�

10

INTERVIEW CR ANE REP ORT 2018

the only company in the region to have the Tadano 145T RT in its fleet.

Meanwhile, our all-terrain cranes are no less advanced and efficient, coming as their do from another illustrious manufacturer - Liebherr Cranes.

Coming to the crawler cranes, this is the category that forms the main focus of our company.

From 40t to 280t in capacity, our models are from HSC Cranes, previously known as HitachiSumitomo Cranes – one of the most renowned brands in this category. As we go higher in capacity, we have Terex’s crawlers from 400-650t.

Please describe your relationship with HSC cranes and with their authorized dealer, MECET, in the Middle East.

We have a very good relationship with both HSC Cranes and with MECET. Just like Aertssen, MECET is also a Belgian family-owned business. Aertssen has been doing business for more than 40 years with MECET’s parent group, Luyckx, in Belgium. In the last 10 years this relationship has also expanded to the UAE. At Aertssen, we are pleased with the services of MECET and will continue this partnership.

Please describe Aertssen’s operations in the region. How has your recent performance been in the Middle East market?

We feel that AMS is most valuable in complex projects. Aertssen operates not only with rental agreements but also provides lifting solutions in lump sum packages. AMS has its own engineering team specialised for critical lifts, lifting plans, ground bearing studies, 3D drawings, etc.

The engineers will attend site surveys along with the supervisors and coordinate with the operators to ensure smooth and safe operations.

In terms of market performance, 2018 has been a quiet year in the UAE. The demand is low due a slower

AERTssEN AT homE

specTacular group lifT

market and the presence of many players. We are more optimistic for 2019, as we can see projects getting awarded and demand rising.

Kuwait has been very busy thanks to the Al Zour oil refinery project that is coming up. Oman has been nice too, as we see demand rising again thanks to projects in Duqm.

Have you spotted any trend in the regional crane market and crane rental sector in the last couple of years?

The market has opened its doors for new players in the business.

And this has happened at a time when overall the marker is slower with lower demand than there used to be. Consequently, it has made conditions tougher, as more cranes are now available in the region from more companies.

Aertssen performed

GMK5130-2s, made the

one the most visually

lift. While the GMK3055

striking and stunning

has a maximum capacity

multi-crane lifts in recent

of 55t and a maximum

history last year when a

boom length of 43m,

group of 14 Grove cranes

the GMK4080 can lift

simultaneously lifted a

up to 80t and has a 51m

massive pipeline for an

maximum boom length.

industrial plant project

The GMK5095 offers a

at the Port of Antwerp

maximum boom length

in Belgium, positioning

of 60m and can lift up to

themselves right on the

100t, while the GMK5130-

water off the pier on

2 is the giant of the group,

specially made bases.

with a 120t lift capacity

The cranes from Aertssen’s Antwerpbased headquarters

and a boom that can extend to around 51m.

“We have experience

lifted the pipeline for

of multi-lift operations

temporary placement

with up to 11 cranes

over the waters of the

that involved pipelines

port. Each crane lifted a

of up to 250m but

6.1t section of the pipe

lifting a 14-section pipe

positioned on its own

with joints was new to

pontoon, floating in the

us,” says Yves Smets,

port. Eight supervisors

Aertessen’s account

watched over the lift.

and project manager.

A fleet of Grove mobile

Please mention any recent deals and purchases that Aertssen has made to expand your crane fleet.

Aertssen always uses cranes from the best brands in the world. As mentioned, brand-wise our fleet here consists mainly of Tadanao, Liebherr, Terex and HSC cranes.

Last year was a busy one for us in terms of new crane acquisitions and fleet expansions, and saw Aertssen purchase more than 20 new cranes.

Of these 80% were crawler cranes and 20% were mobile cranes.

“The hard, preparatory

cranes, comprising

work of our engineering

seven GMK3055s,

team and the expertise

three GMK4080s, two

of the crew on the field

GMK5095s and two

made it a success story.”

Please name some important lifting projects and jobs in the region where Aertssen has been involved.

Aertssen has been involved in almost all the large projects in the region in various sectors, such as infrastructure, construction and oil & gas.

In the petroleum sector our projects include the likes of the Ruwais refinery expansion, the RumaitahShanayal oil field expansion, the GASCO Habshan expansion, the Al Zour refinery in Kuwait, the Borouge petrochemicals projects in the UAE and Liwa Plastics, Oman.

11

“Our fleet strength is especially strong when it comes to the mobile and crawler cranes, and we work with the world’s leading crane manufacturers to supply our fleet” In the infrastructure and construction sectors we’re involved in projects such as the Abu Dhabi airport expansion, the new Muscat airport terminal in Oman, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and projects connected to Dubai’s Expo 2020.

We’re also involved in the upcoming Barakah nuclear power plant project in the UAE.

How does Aertssen maintain and service its cranes and keep them in peak condition?

Aertssen has a strong team of technicians working 24/7 to keep our fleet in the best possible condition.

They are being coordinated by our senior mechanics from our European operations. Our cranes are always in excellent condition and

Aertssen first expanded outside Belgium with a branch in Abu Dhabi in 2005, and has vast experience in heavy lifts in the regional oil & gas sector.

offer peak performance at all times.

One important way through which we manage to offer a very high level of service and performance is by ensuring that we have a very young fleet. At Aertssen we do not keep our cranes for more than 10 years and 85% of our crane fleet is younger than five years of age.

Finally, what sets Aertssen apart from the competition and how has the company built itself into a leader in the crane service provider segment in the region?

Aertssen isn’t just a “rent-a-car – rent-a-crane” company. We provide full engineering studies, supervisors and riggers at any project. Our operations team will review the scope, method statements, risk assessments, etc. of the projects we’re involved in and co-ordinate with the customer.

At Aertssen we make sure our clients are 100% satisfied by our services by providing engineering services, trained manpower and thought and knowledge on how to do a safe lift, apart from the best lifting equipment.

12

TOWER cRanEs CR ANE REP ORT 2018

Luffing aLL the way One Of the best-knOwn glObal names in tOwer cranes and the wOrld’s biggest dealer Of the POtain tOwer crane brand, abu dhabiheadquartered nft fOr tOwer cranes discusses the PrOs and cOns Of the luffing jib tOwer crane and why it’s ideal fOr the gcc’s urban cOnstructiOn landscaPe

i

n separate studies conducted by E u ro p e a n specialists C o n s t r u c c i o n e s M e tá l i c a s COMANSA S.A. & Vandooran Tower Crane Consultants, an analysis was made of the various aspects of the two common types of tower cranes.

Luffing jib tower cranes and level jib tower cranes are the two kinds of common models. Both models are widely used but they differ in their structure, operating principle and application field.

The luffing jib tower crane is mainly used in large projects and industrial equipment installing fields where large lifting capacity, high perching accuracy and high safety are required for lifting large members and equipment components.

A level jib tower crane is mainly used in the common civil building field where fast lifting, and non-precision perching and resting areas are required for lifting building materials. Both models have

13 Luffing-jib tower cranes, such as those made

by Potain, have helped solve a lot of inner city construction problems when it comes to constricted sites.

“Among some of the key reasons for using luffing jib cranes is that especially over the last 15 years, they have helped to solve a lot of inner city construction problems when it comes to the fight for precious space in and around a construction site�

advantages and disadvantages in different application fields, therefore we can plan a key role in determining which model should be selected. Luffing-jib cranes are especially demanded for tall buildings on congested sites. They have a very short counter-jib and a variable working radius, which permit high productivity in extremely narrow spaces.

Among some of the key reasons for using luffing jib cranes is that especially over the last 15 years, they have helped to solve a lot of inner city construction problems when it comes to the fight for precious space in and around a construction site.

The luffing crane has a special design and the jib has the capability of lifting while standing vertical in the air at a minimum of 5m radius from the mass section (Of course, this is used as an example, and depending on the type of crane, this could vary). It is the opposite to the flat top crane, which must be left parallel to the project and at a fixed radius of the jib already pre-determined.

The luffing jib tower crane has solved many issues for projects where over-sailing rights are not possible or very difficult to achieve in cities around the world, like in the United Kingdom. These rights are not usually given when the loads being carried by the crane must be brought over the top of neighbouring buildings that are public, government or have a heavy population of the general public, such as public transport stations. The luffing crane allows the jib and the load to stay within the construction site boundaries at all times and ensure the safety of the general public.

Advantages of using luffing jib tower cranes are: 1. Luffing cranes are usually the best solution when a number of cranes are working on the same construction site, to avoid any kind of crash with other cranes or the surrounding buildings. With their variable working radius, they don’t interfere in the working area of the other cranes on site and they can be parked with a very reduced radius. However, construction site managers should have prior experience in supervising several luffing cranes operating simultaneously.

14

TOWER cRanEs CR ANE REP ORT 2018

2. Luffing-jib cranes can improve material handling cycles on the job-site, using them like auxiliary cranes to the principal tower cranes, reducing the time needed for construction.

3. Usually, the luffer’s maximum load is bigger than other tower cranes.

4. In some areas, local laws make luffing-jib cranes necessary.

For instance, London doesn’t allow any crane to fly over the surrounding spaces when they are working at a job-site, and luffing jib-cranes are in great demand because you can move the jib from the horizontal position up to the total vertical position.

Drawbacks of using luffing jib cranes: There are some disadvantages of the luffing cranes when compared to other tower cranes. Although luffing cranes are major problem-solvers when it comes to working within major city centres or enclosed construction sites, they can greatly affect performance and economics of a construction site not hindered by tight jurisdictions.

1. Luffing cranes are generally more expensive than traditional tower cranes. The tower frames of a

luffing crane are stronger and the luffing mechanisms are much bigger than the hoist system of other tower cranes. Of course, higher technology is applied to move the jib and counterweights.

2. The cost of assembling and disassembling luffing-jib tower cranes is also much higher.

3. Luffing cranes are more receptive

In the GCC, crane selection depends on a project’s requirements.

The popular high-rises in Dubai require high-capacity luffing-jib cranes.

to environmental changes such as the wind, and the jib of a ‘luffer’ acts as a wall in the wind.

So, luffing-jib tower cranes have more restrictions.

4. Since luffing-jib tower cranes don’t have a trolley mechanism and the movement is done by the jib, they usually take longer than tower cranes to finish the job.

The major impact luffing-jib tower cranes have on a construction site is the time that it takes for them to perform movements necessary to lift an object from point A to point B. The luffing crane must perform more movements mechanically in order to raise the object to the desired height and radius. A flat-top tower crane has a fixed jib set to a pre-determined radius. In order to perform a lift it needs to simply reel in the rope to lift the object to the desired height and move a trolley down a track in order to move the object to the desired radius.

With a luffing crane there is no trolley moving quickly down a track.

Instead, you must lift the entire jib using an ‘A’ frame positioned at the

15 rear of the crane top and move it up and down until you have reached your desired radius, while at the same time reeling in the ropes to gain the appropriate height for your load.

It takes a lot more time to perform these tasks and it can be much more difficult, especially if the operator is working blind and is not able to see the load at the end of the ropes.

Luffing-jib tower cranes usually have higher load capacities than other tower cranes of similar specifications, but take a longer time to finish lifting jobs.

To summarise, the luffing-jib tower crane, like all other tower cranes, has its pros and cons, so when designing a job-site, it is a must to ensure that the right crane is selected for the job.

In tight construction zones, such as inner cities, a luffing crane may be the best call. If a wrong choice is made, the result will be a lot of time

and money wasted on the project.

In a market like the UAE, crane selection depends on the project’s requirements. For example, highrise towers, which are very popular here, require luffing cranes with a big capacity. Luffing cranes are special as they enable manoeuvring in tight spaces when surrounded by neighbouring buildings.

cOmpaRE and cOnTRasT

the Verdict According to NBM & CW, the comparison can be summarized in details in the following table (where a large power station is used as a benchmark): Description

Luffing jib tower crane (Large Capacity)

Level jib tower crane (Large Capacity)

Comparison results Luffing jib type

Comparison results Level jib type

Application field

Widely used and it can replace level jib tower crane

Relatively narrow in application field and it can not replace luffing jib tower crane

Superior

Inferior

Laying out flexibility

Good

Bad

Superior

Inferior

Design, manufacture and manufacturing cost

Complex design and manufacture and high manufacturing cost

Relatively easy and low manufacturing cost

Inferior

Superior

Safety

High

Relatively low

Superior

Inferior

Anti-wind ability

Strong

Weak

Superior

Inferior

Perching accuracy and efficiency

High

Low

Superior

Inferior

Lifting and derricking speed

Fast

Slow

Inferior

Superior

Lifting capacity at large radius and the same moment

Large

Small

Superior

Inferior

Maximum radius at the same moment

Small

Large

Inferior

Superior

Safety and suitability in cooperative operation

Strong

Weak

Superior

Inferior

Erecting and dismantling cost

Low

High

Superior

Inferior

As the above comparison, luffing jib tower crane has great advantage over level jib tower crane in power station construction field, which has been confirmed by more than 100 power stations construction in china. Level jib tower crane is widely used in plant construction of power station as auxiliary tool while luffing jib tower crane definitely predominates in boiler lifting. It is not the only choice to use luffing jib tower crane for boiler lifting, which can be achieved by cooperation between large crawling crane, furnace handling crane and large level jib tower crane but also economic efficiency, safety and plane layout need to be carefully considered.

16

Components CR ANE REP ORT 2018

On a rOll

Well knoWn for the quality of its products, specialist off-highWay tyre maker, magna tyres, is enjoying continued success among major crane rental companies in the region With its ma03 premium crane tyre

I

f you own or operate a fleet of cranes – or any other machinery - wherever you are in the world, you have the same abiding concern: how to increase productivity and decrease operating costs. A major component in both productivity and operating cost is the contact patch your crane or equipment has with the ground – the tyre. Use the right one and you enhance the crane’s performance while saving money on replacements. And Magna Tyres knows this.

“Magna Tyres has several products for the crane segment that have achieved great popularity in the Middle East,” says Vijay Nambiar, the Dutch company’s GM for the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. “For example, our MA03/MA03+ premium crane tyre, which has been received very well in the region’s crane market.”

Magna’s MA03/MA03+ offer an optimal combination of tyre performance and purchase price, leading to a low cost-perhour figure and highly efficient operation, he explains. This proposition is widely recognised in the market with important GCC customers, such as Al Faris Equipment Rentals.

“With many successful references worldwide, Magna Tyres has the experience

and knowledge to deliver the premium crane tyre solution requested by the leading crane rental companies,” Nambiar adds.

That experience and knowledge has led to continued success and customer retention. For example, Magna Tyres signed an annual contract with Al Faris last year to supply tyres for all-terrain cranes in the Dubai-headquartered rental company’s

fleet. With 445/95R25 Magna MA03 mobile crane tyres fitted to Al Faris’ mobile crane fleet, the company was impressed enough with the tyres’ performance to renew the contract for another year.

“As result of the successful cooperation in 2018, we renewed and expanded our annual supply contract with Al Faris until the end of 2019. Under the new agreement Magna Tyres will be Al Faris’ supplier for 445/95R25 Magna MA03 mobile crane tyres for the entire GCC region, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” Nambiar says.

While success begets success, the foundation for it is excellence - an ongoing process at Magna Tyres, says Nambiar. This excellence has brought it success with other customers in the region, such as Abdullah H. Al Shuwayer Company, a pioneer in the construction contracting industry in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. This year Magna Tyres successfully delivered a high-volume order of 445/95R25 Magna MA03 mobile crane tyres for Al Shuwayer’s cranes.

“The MA03 is designed for mobile cranes for highway and off-road applications. It is designed to last long, with a non-directional tread design that assures fuel efficiency, and excellent operating comfort.”

18

LIFTING PROJECTS CR ANE REP ORT 2018

Display of strength

With the proof of the crane being in the lifting, CMME brings you the details on tWo lifting projects each for terex and liebherr cranes in the Middle east HamRIyaH SHIPyaRd LIFT

deMag cc 3800-1 stands tall a 150t crawler crane.

When three 72m-long,

lowbed trailers needed

130t spud legs were

a good 10 hours to

required to be lifted

complete the journey

used 68% of its available

off a barge at the UAE’s

to the work site, where

rated capacity for the lifts

Hamriyah shipyard,

Al Faris’ own all-terrain

and the Superlift Split Tray

a Demag CC 3800-1

cranes were used to set

proved to be especially

proved to be the perfect

up the CC 3800-1. Al Faris

useful in the project. This

machine for the project.

used 10 of their specialised

tray makes it possible

team members to get the

to easily uncouple the

crane ready to operate.

counterweight when

The crane was operated

by Dubai-based Al Faris, who were awarded the

The team decided on

The CC 3800-1 only

it is no longer required

project in which the lift

a configuration with a

for the ongoing job, so

site was located 82km

108m-long main boom

that the crane can then

from their location in

and a Superlift mast

move only with the

Dubai Industrial City.

with a length of 36m.

Superlift counterweight

Therefore, the crane first

The central ballast

that is still needed.

had to be transported

totalled 50t, the Superlift

to the work site.

counterweight 325t, and

coupling technology

“This clever quick

the counterweight on the

helped us save a lot of

the required parameters

superstructure 165t. Once

time at the shipyard,” Pinto

for the three lifts, we

set up this way, the CC

reports. The Al Faris team

decided that our CC

3800-1 was ready to lift

also had Terex Crane’s

3800-1 was the best

the three spud legs with a

assistance even before the

possible fit for the

gross weight of 130t each

planning started as well

job,” says Hillary Pinto,

at a maximum radius of

as the presence of a Terex

founder and managing

50m, swing them to the

Cranes engineer during

director, Al Faris Group.

side, and then set them

the lift, which was well

The company’s own

in place with the help of

appreciated by Pinto.

“Once we determined all

19

130t

Weight of of the thre each es legs lifted pud and placed in the job

20

LIFTING PROJECTS CR ANE REP ORT 2018

dubaI mETRO PROJECT

SaudI OIL FIELd PROJECT

liebherr atc tackles girders

terex rt 90 shoWs its Mettle “Five months of continuous

conclusion that the RT 90 it

any down time,” Nabors drilling

had recently acquired would be

manager David Siljeg succinctly

the best choice for the project,

puts it while summarising

explains CEO Mohammed Ashif.

how well the Terex RT 90

easy to operate, has an

at his job-site in Abqaiq, in

enormous lifting capacity,

Saudi Arabia. The crane lifted

and features a rigidly

numerous components for

designed chassis. You’d be

drilling rigs, generators, and

forgiven for believing that

a power distribution and

it was made precisely for

control centre at the oil field

this assignment,” he says.

conditions at the desert site.

“For this project, we needed

After careful

“The RT 90 is exceptionally

rough terrain crane performed

while enduring challenging

A Liebherr all-terrain

Expertise then came to the

back-breaking work without

The crane was brought to the site in one low bed trailer from Expertise’s location 200km away

a heavy-duty, reliable crane

in Jubail in three hours. Once the

that not only combined a large

RT 90 reached the job-site, the

lifting capacity with excellent

crane operator needed a mere 10

manoeuvrability under tight

minutes to get it ready to work.

space conditions, but that

The four-person Nabors team

crane and a 650t crawler

calculations and analysis,

would also be ready to start

found the crane reliable at all

assisted in the lifting and

it was decided to use

working at the drop of a hat,”

times. In fact, the unit completed

moving of the heaviest

a gantry system for

says Siljeg while describing the

most of the lifts solo. As is the

precast girders of the

lifting the girders due to

requirements that his company

norm every time a crane is used

Dubai Metro railway’s

space restrictions for a

had when contacting Saudi

for the first time, Terex Crane

under-construction

tandem crane lift set-up,

heavy equipment provider

team members were present

Route 2020 line, which

and to avoid the extra

Expertise Contracting Company.

on-site to oversee operations.

is often referred to as the

logistics and cost of

‘Journey into the Future’

transportation.

after Dubai was awarded the Expo 2020.

Having previously

At first the girders, weighing 426t, were loaded using a SBL900

worked on Dubai Metro

gantry system on Al Faris’

lines, regional crane

Goldhofer 19 axle THP/

services major Al Faris

SL multi-axle trailer,

was awarded the job of

connected to a 680hp

loading, transporting and

Heavy Duty Prime Mover.

lifting the girders.

The gantry was set up

“A project of this

using a Liebherr 100t all-

nature, with multiple

terrain crane and forklift.

jobs, requires detailed

The girders were then

planning and optimised

lifted and erected on the

utilisation of equipment

metro column safely by a

for successful execution,

650t crawler crane with

which is all done in-

SSL2 configuration and

house by our engineers

42m main boom.

and technicians,” says

Al Faris’ team was

Kieve Pinto, executive

present on site to ensure

director, Al Faris.

safety and efficiency.

21

dubaI GENERaTOR LIFT

liebherr craWler in solo lift A Liebherr LR 11000

404t

Weight of th heaviest o e f 12 generators lifted by the LR1100 0

prior to the operation.

lattice boom crawler

Before the final lift,

crane has performed

the crane was assembled

12 heavy lifts of

with the required ballast

generators of various

weight and slung with

sizes at a power plant

the heavy-duty webbing

project in Dubai.

belts chosen for use in

When Dubai-based

the lifting plan. A team

regional crane service

of planning engineers,

heavyweight Al Faris

heavy lift managers

was awarded the

and supervisor were all

project, which included

present on site to ensure

executing the 12 lifts

a safe efficient lift.

in confined spaces

The big powerhouse –

between structures

the 1000T crawler crane

with the largest piece

was used with SDWB2

weighing 404t, the

configuration (main

company chose the

boom – 48m, luffer –

Liebherr LR 11000 after

30m) while lifting the

careful consideration

404t generator, which

and calculations.

was one of the most

The cranes strength and capacity, along with its various boom

impressive heavy lifts by a single crane for Al Faris.

The entire operation

configurations made

included lifting the

it the most ideal and

generator from the

efficient crane for a

hydraulic trailer and

demanding heavy lift

manoeuvring the crane

at heights such as this

with the load towards

one, Al Faris concluded.

the foundation, which

The lift was planned and

was approximately 10m

carried out by their team

away, to achieve the

of trained and qualified

planned radius. The

experts. All technical

load was then hoisted

support documentation,

to a height of 30m and

execution plans and

rotated over a high-rise

schedules were prepared

steel structure and slowly

in-house. This helped

lowered to approximately

organise all activities

15m within the narrow

from beginning to end

space between the

and kept delays to a

steel structures to the

minimum, ultimately

foundation level.

safely lifting the

The final alignment

generators in confined

of the load was done

spaces. Al Faris also

by coordinating with

has a strong focus on

the installation team. A

adhering to the best

similar lifting procedure

HSE practices on site,

was followed to safely

which was discussed

lift the remaining

in detail with the client

11 generators.

22

Crawler Cranes CR ANE REP ORT 2018

Power lifters

The laTTice boom crawler crane remains The king of heavy lifTs in The region as The major brands find TracTion in The markeT wiTh new models for The abundance of heavy-lifT jobs

i

n a region that boasts some of the world’s biggest oil & gas refineries, petrochemical and port projects, as well as some of the tallest and biggest construction and infrastructure projects, there’s obviously no dearth of heavy lifting jobs.

And while the region’s preference for mobile cranes is well known, the crawler crane’s strength and capacity makes it indispensable for the big lifting jobs – it’s the king of heavy lifts. Lattice boom crawler cranes are some of the largest pieces of construction equipment ever designed, with some of the thousand-ton-plus behemoths dwarfing even the largest mining excavators and ultra-large dumper trucks in size, stature and sheer presence.

One of the global crane brands that is very popular in the region is Terex’s Demag. And within the Demag model range one crane that has been very well received of late in the Middle East lifting sector is the Demag CC 3800-1. The 650t capacity model, with a maximum load moment of 8,484 ton-metres and maximum tip height of 195m, is among the latest models from Terex Cranes, owner of the Demag brand.

Damien Bizjak, associate marketing manager, Global Marketing, at Terex Cranes, says: “The Demag CC 3800-1 has been our most successful crane in the Middle East recently. Its faster rig-up times, higher capacity and ease of operation created a new segment requirement for this crane. All the major crane rental companies went for this crane, and they have appreciated the speed at which it can be mobilised and rigged up. Its high lift capacity, various boom combinations and versatility have also contributed to its popularity.”

Elaborating on Terex’s business in the GCC, he adds: “There has been a constant demand for crawler

Global crane heavyweight Terex, which owns the legendary Demag brand, is among the most popular in the region’s crawler crane category.

23 “The Demag CC 3800-1 has been our most successful crane in the Middle East recently.

Its faster rig-up times, higher capacity and ease of operation created a new segment requirement for this crane”

cranes in this region on an upsurge of requirement in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. New refinery and major infrastructure projects in Kuwait, the nuclear power plant in the UAE and petrochemical projects in Oman have all pushed up demand, as has the construction of stadiums in Qatar.

“Our range for Demag crawler cranes goes from 400t with the CC 2400-1 to 3200t with the CC 8800-1 TWIN. In our range, the models from 400-650t capacity have found major use in the maintenance of petrochemical plants and infrastructure projects. The bigger ones, meanwhile, are being used for the construction of these projects along with oil rigs, power and nuclear facilities. Overall, the demand is highest for the 400t, 600t, 650t and 1600t Demag crawlers. The CC 2800-1 and CC 8800-1 used to be our flagship models; however, the CC 3800 -1 has become very popular of late and earned praise from all our customers for being the perfect fit in jobs with high lifting requirement and space constraints.”

Demag is of course a legendary name in the crane business, with a long history of excellence. This is due to its dedication to both quality and the customer, says Bizjak.

“We listen to our customers and work very closely with them. We understand their needs and strive to provide solutions that cater to their specific requirements in our crane products and services. And then we help them to improve their uptime through professional after-sales support and training. In the Middle East, this positive and proactive attitude of the Terex and Demag brands has enabled us to form strong tie-ups with all crane service providers. We work in close coordination with them to provide the right return on investment and the solutions that cater to their needs. This is what makes Demag so popular.

“International lifting service majors such as Mammoet, Sarens and Aertssen have also included the model in their Middle East fleets. Most of these companies have placed repeat business as well, which confirms the model’s success. Among the biggest names to have ordered the crane from the Middle East are Al Jabar, ILC, Al Areedh and Al Faris, to name a few.”

In fact, Al Faris, the leading UAE-based regional crane and lifting services provider has recently expanded its crawler crane fleet with the inclusion of a Demag CC 3800-1. The company, however, is more readily associated with the Liebherr brand, which forms most of its fleet. Al Faris counts Liebherr’s giant crawler, the LR 11000 as its flagship.

“Liebherr is a leader in crane manufacturing, introducing the latest technologies, easier mobilisation and demobilisation systems, as well as simpler operating and functionality options. Liebherr has set new standards in crawler crane development over the last few years in terms of technical innovations and user-friendly designs,” says Kieve Pinto, managing director of Al Faris.

24

Crawler Cranes CR ANE REP ORT 2018

“In this region, we are an entrenched player in the crawler cranes segment.

Our sales are well spread out throughout the GCC. Our bestseller in the region…remains the SCX2800, a 280t model”

The Liebherr LR 11000 covers a wide range of uses with its many boom versions, including the PowerBoom parallel boom system.

The LR 11000 has been designed for use in constricted areas, like the oil & gas and petrochemical industries. Its design also ensures low transportation costs.

Describing the model’s advanced features, Liebherr says in its official literature: “Its large number of boom versions and high lifting capacity means that the LR 11000 covers a wide range of applications. The standard components, comprising the S main boom and W luffing jib, enable the crane to use various boom options, including a strong PowerBoom system with a heavy luffing jib.

Only the P adapter is required as a supplement for this purpose. Main S boom operation is possible with a 1,000t head or a 650t head.”

The advancements of the LR11000 have already enabled it to have its moments with Al Faris, as Pinto describes: “We recently carried out structural lifting works using the Liebherr LR 11000 in Dubai for the iconic Mohammed Bin Rashed

Library located near the Dubai Creek in Jaddaf. The challenging project was made easier by the crane’s power, versatility and ease of use.”

Another popular name in the Middle East crawler crane market is HSC Cranes. With lattice boom crawler models in various capacities in its range, and with a reputation for Japanese quality, the manufacturer

With a reputation for Japanese quality and a product line-up ranging from 50t to the 500t capacity class, HSC Cranes is a popular brand in the Middle East.

has always been among the most noted in its sector both worldwide and in the region.

Speaking with CMME, Wim Aernouts, director, Middle East Crane Equipment Trading (MECET), HSC’s regional dealer, says that with a new launch in early 2018 and demand steady, the company has continued its performance this year after a

25 successful 2017. Late in the first quarter this year, due to a corporate restructuring between owners Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Crane (SHI) and Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM), the manufacturer rebranded the products as HSC Cranes. No longer is the branding on the cranes Hitachi-Sumitomo, which is now replaced by the name HSC. Everything else, however, remains the same as before, Piet Van Bakergem, GM, Hitachi Construction Machinery Middle East (HMEC), says. To emphasise the point, there is also a new slogan: “Same crane. New name.”

The HSC line-up starts from the 50t SCX550E crawler and goes all the way up to the 6000SLX in the 500t class. Its latest launch early this year is an 80t lattice boom crawler that expands its SCX E-series. The model – the SCX800E – has a maximum lift capacity of 80t at a 3.2m radius, sports a maximum main boom length of 54.5m and is powered by a 140kW engine.

Such machines are leading the charge for the brand in the Middle East, Aernouts says. Among the important customers who have gone in for HSC equipment is Aertssen, which counts projects such as the Dubai Metro’s underconstruction 2020 line among its major engagements.

“In this region, we are an entrenched player in the crawler cranes segment. Our sales are well spread out throughout the GCC. Some of our crane customers are in the Duqm port project in Oman and its associated infrastructure works.

Another customer transferred his entire fleet from Qatar to Kuwait this year and is in talks with us for more units, which will be based in Kuwait’s Ruwais area. We have also done brisk business with our smaller crawler cranes for foundation jobs. The 55t SCX550 and the 70t SCX700E are two such models which have found

XCMG’s XGC88000

one for The record books

Chinese manufacturer

the utilisation rate of

XCMG’s 4,000t

the entire machine and

behemoth, the

maximising benefits.

XGC88000, which the

The XGC88000 has

manufacturer claims

a maximum lifting

is the world’s largest

moment of 88,000

crawler crane, claims

ton-metres. It is among

among its successes a

the most powerful

lifting operation of a

crawler cranes currently

deisobutanizer at the

in the global lifting

Petrochemical Industrial

equipment industry and

Park in Dalian, China.

has set records with

In building the

nine internationally

XGC88000, XCMG

pioneering technologies

successfully overcame

and more than 80

a host of technical

Chinese national patents.

challenges - such as

The heavy main

double link jib, transfer

boom, light boom, tower

with heavy load and

attachment, special jib

dual-crane teamwork

and single boom head

- which had remained

block all make it suitable

unsolved for a long

for nuclear, thermal and

time. The model is the

petrochemical plant

first of its kind to be

projects. The 4,000t

able to transform for a

crane and its 1,100t tailing

dual purpose. Through

machine have performed

the combination of its

over 60 lifts and created

components, it can be

a new world record of a

transformed into a 2,000t

single crane that lifted

crawler crane, improving

2,300t at a time.

favour in this sector. Our best-seller in the region, however, remains the SCX2800, a 280t model with deliveries this year to the Johnson Group.”

Another Japanese brand with a strong presence in the regional crawler crane sector is Kobelco.

Especially popular in foundation jobs, the brand sees the biggest demand for its 100t and below models, says Kentaro Nezaki, Kobelco’s director and GM of crane business. Among the important projects where Kobelco cranes are working in the region is the site of one of the largest public libraries in the region, near the Festival City mall in Dubai, he reveals.

“Our position is progressively getting better in the region. The UAE and Kuwait are our leading markets in the GCC, with almost 85% of the demand for our products being for the 100t and below models in the UAE. However, our 250t model is also very popular and we are seeing requirements and enquiries pick up for our new 300t CKS3000 model,” says Nezaki.

Civil works and construction are the leading sectors that Kobelco supplies cranes to, he adds. “With the oil price picking up, we expect to see demand pick up too for largersized models in plant construction and maintenance. At Kobelco, we specialise in lattice boom crawler cranes and we are prepared with a model range from 55t to 550t.”

To improve reliability and ease of service, Kobelco follows its own philosophy of simplicity, Nezaki adds.

“We try to design cranes that are strong but also simple. We also try to minimise the use of electronics. This adds up to cranes that are robust and have minimum downtime. Also, we are very confident about our support. Not only are our dealers well trained, but we also have a team of three expert service engineers stationed in Dubai who are always available to attend to any customer needs throughout the region.”

26

Technology CR ANE REP ORT 2018

high on Safety French crane saFety systems expert amcs technologies discusses how its latest product – the dcs 61-s – helps avoid collision between liFting equipment

a

voiding collisions between cranes and other objects is a vital part of any job-site, especially on multi-crane sites. By ensuring the supply of materials, tower cranes play a crucial role in the construction process. Any problems can generate accidents, delays and financial loss.

AMCS’s latest anti-collision and zoning product - the DCS 61-S (Driving Control System-Safety) – meets the European standard EN 17076 and is expected early next year. Visitors to the Big 5 Heavy in Dubai this month, however, can take a sneak peek at the system, which will be presented at the show

by A and Z technologies, the exclusive dealer of AMCS technologies in the Middle East.

The new DCS 61-S system has enhanced capacity to guarantee job-site safety with tower cranes by using “the redundancy of information”, according to AMCS.

The company says it is in the process of being PLd (Performance Level) certified in accordance with the European standard EN 13849-1, and SIL-2 (Safety Integrity Level) certified in accordance with the standard EN 61508 by an accredited third-party organisation (INERIS), in order to guarantee a serious quality approach.

AMCS says the three essential features of the DCS 61-S system are: Zoning function: This feature is to avoid overflying a forbidden area by continuously controlling the working limits of the tower crane. Three-dimensional prohibited zones can be quickly defined directly on the screen, by associating geometric shapes with the areas concerned.

Anti-collision function: This system applies adjustable safety coverage to all machine sections in order to manage, in real time and in 3D, the “interferences” between each element of the cranes, as well as the

speed of movement. The system will allow intervention on the controlled mechanisms to ensure complete immobilisation of the cranes at a pre-set distance from the obstacle.

Data logger:This feature constantly collects and saves events related to the management of the “prohibited zones” and “interferences” functions in order to view them directly on screen and/or download them on a USB key.

“Thousands of AMCS anti-collision systems are installed worldwide today, including in the GCC region at key sites such as Dubai Creek Harbour and Meydan One Mall in Dubai, the Abu Dhabi Airport and the Muscat Airport in Oman, amongst many others. Visitors to the A and Z technologies and AMCS technologies stand at the Big 5 Heavy will have the opportunity to exchange views with our expert team of anti-collision and zoning experts and discover the last product, the DCS 61-S,” says a spokesperson of the French multinational company.

SecuriTy on Top

packed with Features allows you to view:

Some features that increase AMCS

· The position of the crane and its

technologies’ new DCS 61-S system’s

load and their movements, such as

efficiency in enabling safe crane operations are:

orientation, distribution, lifting and

• Adapting to different types of machines,

travelling · The position and movements of other

such as tower cranes, luffing jib cranes,

cranes that may interfere in your area

gantries, placing booms, travelling

· Static obstacles (prohibited areas) and the

cranes, etc.

• The ability to neutralize anti-collision and zoning functions remotely globally or selectively, thanks to a radio network with the supervisor SUP 61 • Recording of up to five target positions for easy loading and unloading • Ability to neutralise the system

temporarily. The choice is multiple - by zones, zoning function and/or anticollision.

• Ability to add a SIM card to download information and events of the crane on a web page • A control monitor in the cabin that

risk of collisions with interfering cranes · Useful information about productivity, such as date, time, load, range, wind speed, jib positioning, etc.

• Sensors with a high level of security and a CANopen Safety communication network

WORK IN TOTAL PEACE OF MIND WITH THE WORLWIDE EXPERT IN ANTI-COLLISION SYSTEMS FOR CRANES

New

Visit us Hall 1 stand Z1D150

Meets the new European standards

• Compatible with all cranes

Anti-collision

Zoning

Indicator

www.amcs.fr

• Event recording for each crane • Intuitive programming • An expert team at your service

A and Z technologies Exclusive dealer in the Middle East Dubai office : info@amcs-me.com

New technologies dedicated to your safety

28

LAST WORD CR ANE REP ORT 2018

strong s e d A c e A six-d s still i t r e v o gr Antique job done e h t g n i gett

e i d l o n e d l o G s ’ e v o r G

g boats or transportin e, id ts u o g urran’s loyalty d workin ider is an n job-sites. C o ov ls pr ia es er ds — ic at rv m crane se andling paid dividen n American rchased h RT-58 have e pu me it th 8 d so -5 an ed RT ve rove to Gro complet still using a G endous e crane has em th tr es as at e. h n tim o h al hic he es years in 1962, w al value to e last seven ental d emotion 0 jobs in th an 30 l ave sentim h ca ri s to e is o h d 8 this -5 T d R te “This y. ther star the compan nerating me. My fa ge to ing ill ild st ce u is n b 8 ca -5 d began d signifi The Grove RT e 1950s an th the ompany an in C as y w e n It an ra p s.

C in the 1960 e last com r JJ Curran s th fo es in e n t,” s u si b n gh u jo u b ve re an 300 e ever bo the crane ed more th lic crane w u ra JJ f yd o h t st has complet en fir d urran, presi as says Larry C seven years. pany. “This J” Curran w m “J o C n h e n Jo ra .

Curran C Back in 1962 epreneur e family now young entr e is part of th g an in cr d ep d u ke b in u a pany beater yo crane com It’s that old starting a first is farm.”

H ily . m an ichig on the fa ve Detroit, M 8, -5 ill a big Gro as a Grove RT Curran is st has y n s purchase w pa e b m th jo r, co f o te is Number 60 years la customer. H fleet, ve and nearly odels in its ear old Gro ney maker m o -y l 6 m ra 5 a e ve ill th se st st rrain la te crane is le d. th nde them al pany he fou has done in rs many of ased h for the com rc ,” u a st p e la y seven and has was built to s, 8 e -5 an RT cr s hi “T units over JJ who an 80 Grove rran, son of u th C re ff o Je ther m a ys sa FO. “It’s from any o wner and C s, more than ar ility, te ye b ra e lia is now co-o th pe re o is easy to dits their e at cr th l e o e H to an r. e simpl well as the r it. The cr ufacture ycle value, as s find work fo , and man ec ay es lif w ac d al . e sp an t w h d an into tig rove dealers rformance le and can fit ived from G It is still pe ce s. re 8 n -5 as tio h RT ra e e is very mobi h pe rry o es, but th support pick-and-ca ig new cran ars later!” . b ye ys r u sa 60 o st an ve it’s great for o rr lo m u “We e ots,” Jeff C nue for us al th ro ve r at re u g th o e tin to ity av ra gene ’s qual us back e that h ent to Grove great peopl ny takes us of all the It’s a testam rane Compa s C d They may in an s. m rr u ar re C t ye “I in use. JJ s that e over the sk er h ta f g!” gh o u y ro RT-58 is still et vari come th is still workin ane for a t this crane ting inside bu , lif n o as e uses the cr n ch su go e, have mpact cran ent plants, require a co s and cem ie er fin re s, of steel mill

A

300